Welcome Graham Barton

[BuccaNOLEer]

Duke's best O-Lineman. Big reason why they looked like contenders last year until that rash of injuries. I like it.

[Snake]

Can’t be much worse than what we have. So there’s that.

[Snake]

Overview
Reviewing Barton’s tape is a pleasurable experience in offensive line evaluation, as his tenacity and know-how are on full display throughout. Though he played at a high level at left tackle, center will likely be his NFL home. Barton is an explosive drive blocker with the body control and leg drive to keep opponents centered and finish the job. His hands are sudden, accurate and strong in both phases, but a lack of length will create occasional challenges on the next level. His fluidity creates an advantage as a second-level climber, and he’s highly capable in the screen game. Barton’s technique, toughness and athleticism are exactly what teams will be looking for from an early starter with Pro Bowl potential.

Strengths

Possesses the bend, core strength and technique of an NFL starter.
Patient but firm, exploding into the block and running his feet to secure.
Fits and finishes blocks with excellent body control and very strong claws.
Smooth climber with good adjustments to targets in space.
Pass sets are clean with broad base and twitchy hands.
Counters rush movements with well-postured mirror and sticky hands.
Arches back and unlocks lowers, creating flexion and leverage with pass anchor.
Once he’s settled into defenders in run/pass, he’s usually the winner.

Weaknesses

Arms are shorter than NFL standard for his position.
Occasional struggles getting into position for redirects when beaten.
Needs to guard against lunging as a second-level blocker.
Corrals escaping defenders with his arms, which could bring flags.

[Grahamburn]

GRAHAM!!

[Sdbucs]

Our new center

[Terry Tate]

This is a win in every way. The interior Oline needed a shot of talent and center is an underrated position

[Snake]

[Bootz]

Great selection. Happy we finally got a TRUE IOL. Hainsey moves to the bench.

[BuccaNOLEer]

This guy can step in and start at center on day one. That will allow Hainsey to slide outside to guard.

We needed a quality center badly now that Jensen is done playing football. This was a very good pick.

[BucsNBills]

So why Barton over JPJ? Just curious.

Heard great things about Barton so I'm good with the pick

[Ken]

I'm pleased.

[Ken]

So why Barton over JPJ? Just curious.

Heard great things about Barton so I'm good with the pick

I've heard there are some injury concerns? Concussions, perhaps?

[njdungeoneer]

Great IOL selection by the Bucs! Exactly who is needed to improve the offense.

Great pick JL!

[Sdbucs]

So why Barton over JPJ? Just curious.

Heard great things about Barton so I'm good with the pick

Ask Licht

[Miller4Prez64]

A center from Duke? We sure this isn’t the NBA draft?

Good pick though.

[Snake]

Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton was given a 9.99 relative athletic score, the third-highest by a guard prospect since 1987.

[Snake]

The Ringer profile

SCOUTING REPORT BY DANNY KELLY
Barton has a muscular, well-built frame and plays with light feet and good balance. He mirrors smoothly and quickly reacts to inside countermoves. He brings a quick, measured punch at the snap, shooting his hands into opponents’ chests to stun them at the point of attack. He has good balance to recover when he misses on his punch and does well to avoid overextending himself. He has a strong grip and latches on to opponents, consistently controlling the rep from start to finish. Barton explodes out of his stance in the run game and brings the fight to his opponent. He has quick feet and a flexible lower half that allow him to swiftly establish position, reaching and sealing on the backside to open up cutback lanes. He’s an athletic mover who effortlessly glides to the second level. He churns his feet to drive opponents off the ball and does well to keep them centered throughout the snap.

There are times Barton’s punch lands wide, which allows opponents into his body and to establish leverage. He lacks length and struggles with speed off the edge—he oversets and opens himself up to inside countermoves—and it’s expected that teams will view him as an interior player only. He has limited experience on the inside (five starts at center as a freshman), so he may need some ramp-up time to make the move to center or guard.

WHY HE COULD RISE
Barton is a steady, easy-moving technician on the offensive line who blocks with a feisty demeanor and fundamental positioning; he brings potential multi-position versatility.

WHY HE COULD FALL
He lacks the length to play at left tackle and is likely to be viewed as an interior lineman only.

[Rocker]

Licht knows OL.

This is a huge W.

[Sdbucs]

Everything about him seems great so hopefully he and Wirfs can make this line a strong unit

[Kona]

[Rocker]

Don’t flinch when we double down.

[Doctor]

Love the pick. Would've loved it even more if Cooper DeJean wasn't on the board, but he was in my top 3 at the time of picking so I ain't mad.

Jason Licht will always be a trench guy.

The benefit of being a good team is you can take more developmental players and groom them. Barton isn't that. Barton can hit the ground running more than other recent Licht picks and I'm all here for it. Wirfs, Luke, Mauch, Barton, Hainsey.... guys.... that's an OL.

[reagan SMASH]

I rarely post, but as a Duke fan, I needed to say I'm a huge fan of this pick. I find it interesting that they announced him as a center. Regardless, his versatility will be a huge asset.

[Snake]

So he’s played tackle, but he’s been projected to kick inside for the entirety of his draft process?

[Bootz]

So he’s played tackle, but he’s been projected to kick inside for the entirety of his draft process?

He played C for Duke a few years back.

[Sdbucs]

Everything says he’s going to IOL

[BucsNBills]

So he’s played tackle, but he’s been projected to kick inside for the entirety of his draft process?

Yeah I'm not sure why he was penciled in specifically at center.

[Doctor]

No one is locked in in April. I'm sure we'll let it flush itself out.

While it would be nice to finely get Hainsey out to OG instead of playing substitute center, might be worth keeping him there if Graham simply shows to be an great guard. Ala Ali Marpet.

[BucsNBills]

No one is locked in in April. I'm sure we'll let it flush itself out.

While it would be nice to finely get Hainsey out to OG instead of playing substitute center, might be worth keeping him there if Graham simply shows to be an great guard. Ala Ali Marpet.

Are you expecting Hainsey to play guard better than center?

[Central_Buc]

Great selection. Happy we finally got a TRUE IOL. Hainsey moves to the bench.

Or G

[Bootz]

Great selection. Happy we finally got a TRUE IOL. Hainsey moves to the bench.

Or G

Convince me he deserves to continue to start after being the worst starter at his position since 2022.

[Snake]

He’d be a tall lanky center

[Redrum]

Very solid pick. Barton will most likely be a day one impact starter who will stick around for a long time. We must run the ball better next year. This is a good step towards achieving that.

[Phantom]

[Doctor]